Louise Redknapp and Roy Hodgson join the cast of Evita on opening night

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical returned to the West End last night with Emma Hatton starring as the Argentinian legend Evita.

Celebrities including Louise Redknapp, James Dreyfus, Tony Blackburn, Gloria Huniford and Roy Hodgson joined the cast to mark the first night at the Phoenix Theatre.

The show, which originally opened in the West End in 1978 and was revived in 2006, tells the story of the rise of Eva Perón from being a young woman living in a provincial town to being one of Argentina's most loved and powerful figures.

Joining Hatton is Gian Marco Schiaretti as Che and Kevin Stephen-Jones as President Juan Peron.

In her four star review of the show, Sarah Crompton said the production demonstrates how this is one of Rice and Webber's best works.

Evita runs at the Phoenix Theatre until 14 October.

Buy tickets to Evita